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Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher
Lonely Planet Discover Costa Rica is your passport to all the most relevant and up-to-date advice on what to see, what to skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Count butterflies and orchids in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, have a fresh cup of coffee amid San Jose's Spanish-colonial buildings, or kayak past dolphins in the Golfo Dulce; all with your trusted travel companion. Discover the best of Costa Rica and begin your journey now!
Inside Lonely Planet Discover Costa Rica:
The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet Discover Costa Rica, our easy-to-use guide, is perfect for travelers who seek the most popular attractions a destination has to offer. Filled with inspiring and colorful photos, this guide focuses on the best of the best.
Authors: Written and researched by Lonely Planet, Nate Cavalieri, Adam Skolnick, and Wendy Yanagihara.
About Lonely Planet: Started in 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel guide publisher with guidebooks to every destination on the planet, as well as an award-winning website, a suite of mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveler community. Lonely Planet's mission is to enable curious travelers to experience the world and to truly get to the heart of the places they find themselves in.
TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards 2012 and 2013 winner in Favorite Travel Guide category
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This is Costa Rica 6
Costa Rica Map 8
Costa Rica's Top 25 Experiences 10
Costa Rica's Top Itineraries 32
Month by Month 42
What's New 46
Get Inspired 47
Need to Know 48
San José 51
Highlights 54
Best 58
Walking Tour 60
San José 62
Around San Jose 73
Central Valley 77
Highlights 80
Best 84
Itineraries 86
Alajuela 88
Parque Nacionai Volcán Poás 90
Sarchí 91
Los Angeles Cloud Forest Adventure Park 93
Palmares 93
Heredia 93
Barva 95
Cartago 97
Parque Nacionai Volcán Irazú 98
Valle de Orosi 99
Parque Nacionai Tapantí-Macizo Cerro de la Muerte 100
Turrialba 101
Monumento Nacionai Arqueológico Guayabo 102
Northern Costa Rica 105
Highlights 108
Best 114
Itineraries 116
La Fortuna & Around 118
Parque National Volcán Arenal 125
El Castillo 127
Laguna de Arenal Area 129
Nuevo Arenal 131
Nuevo Arenal to Tilarán 132
Tilarán 133
Monteverde & Santa Elena 135
Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde 146
Reserva Santa Elena 148
Liberia 148
Volcán Miravalles
Area 153
Parque National Rincón de la Vieja 154
Parque National Volcán Tenorto 156
Parque National Santa Rosa 158
Llanos de Cortés 159
La Virgen 160
La Virgen to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí 162
Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí & Around 164
South of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí 165
Peninsula de Nicoya 167
Highlights 170
Best 174
Itineraries 176
Playa del Coco 178
Playa Brasilito 180
Playa Conchal 181
Playa Grande 181
Parque National Marino Las Baulas do Guanacaste 182
Playa Tamarindo 183
Playas Avellana & Negra 186
Nosara Area 188
Playa Samara 192
Montezuma 194
Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco 198
Mai País & Santa Teresa 199
Central Pacific Coast 205
Highlights 208
Best 214
Itineraries 216
Parque Nacional Carara 218
Jacó 218
Playa Hermosa 221
Quepos 222
Quepos to Manuel Antonio 223
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around 225
Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge 230
Dominical 231
Uvita 235
Parque Nacional Marino Ballena 237
Ojochal Area 238
Southern Costa Rica 241
Highlights 244
Best 250
Itineraries 252
Bahía Drake 254
Bahía Drake to Parque Nacional Corcovado 257
Sierpe 258
Puerto Jiménez 258
Cabo Matapalo & Carate 262
Parque National Corcovado 263
Golfito 265
Zancudo & Pavones 266
Parque Nacional Isla del Cocos 268
San Istdro de El General 269
San Gerardo dc Rivas 270
Parque Nacional Chirripó 271
San Gerardo de Dota 273
Parque Nacional Los Quetzales 274
Reserva Indigena Boruca 275
San Vito 277
Parque Internacional La Amistad 281
Caribbean Coast 283
Highlights 286
Best 290
Itineraries 292
Puerto Limon 294
Moín 296
Cariari 296
Tortuguero Village 296
Parque Nacional Tortuguero 302
Cahuita 305
Parque Nacional Cahuita 309
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca 311
Manzanillo 315
Costa Rica Today 320
History 322
Family Travel 332
Costa Rica
Outdoors 335
Tico Way of Life 340
Costa Rica Landscapes 343
Wildlife Guide 348
Shopping 353
Directory 356
Accommodations 356
Business Hours 357
Climate 357
Customs Regulations 358
Discount Cards 358
Electricity 358
Food 358
Gay & Lesbian Travelers 359
Health 360
Internet Access 362
Legal Matters 362
Money 363
Safe Travel 363
Telephone 364
Time 365
Tourist Information 365
Travelers with Disabilities 365
Visas 365
Women Travelers 365
Transport 366
Getting There & Away 366
Getting Around 366
Language 371
Behind the Scenes 373
Index 374
How to Use this Book 383
Our Writers 384
Overview
Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher
Lonely Planet Discover Costa Rica is your passport to all the most relevant and up-to-date advice on what to see, what to skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Count butterflies and orchids in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, have a fresh cup of coffee amid San Jose's Spanish-colonial buildings, or kayak past dolphins in the Golfo Dulce; all with ...